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Sleep, Health and Marriage

Brian Yalung — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:30:22 +0000

Sleep disorder victims can strike anyone. Notably married couples, not all partners have patience with regards to trying to put up with their partner’s sleeping problems which can go as far as breathing problems up to snoring. If you look at it, snoring can act as a stimulant for worst nights ahead as even the normal sleeper may start finding sleep issues since he or she cannot sleep soundly as they should be.

If you look at it, sleep problems pose as a web of problems if you check it out. One problem leads to another and may go as far as affecting the overall health of a person suffering from these sleep disorders. They just have to address the sleep problem so that it doesn’t get out of hand.

You’re not alone if feel like you need a nap at work. About 70 million of us have some sort of sleep problem according the National Sleep Foundation. And, many disorders go untreated.

(Source) WhoTV.com

Sleeping Beauty Becomes a Beast

Brian Yalung — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:35:10 +0000

Sleep is synonymous to the proper amount of sleep and something that most of us need direly if we want ourselves to be rational at times. But the question here is do we have the proper means of getting the ideal sleep practices and ensure ourselves that we have fully recharged from a hectic day while being awake?

Chances are that our moods will be the telling factor. People who sleep more are expected to develop a worst condition of having to manage their personal selves especially if they lack rest and sleep. All of us are only human and to be grumpy or even grouchy at times is only something we can expect when we are tired or lack the amount of sleep to settle our minds back to our sane selves.

Not getting enough kip can also contribute to feelings of hostility and anger, though the researchers found women were more likely to be made grumpy by a lack of sleep than men were.

(Source) New Zealand Herald

Grumpy Old Women Need to Sleep

Brian Yalung — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:57:56 +0000

We have seen most elderly women become grumpy at times and normally, we attribute it to PMS or Post Menstrual Syndrome. While this affects them and becomes a pain for them most of the time, lack of sleep also has a hand on why they become grumpy at times making excuses all the more clearer why mood swings are frequent within them.

Sleep problems become more high risk for older women. For one, we all know that lack of sleep affects as far as the heart and respiratory systems of our bodies. Women often find themselves pressured and stressed at times and while some are pretty good at handling it, giving them slack with regards to their mood swings due to sleep disorders is excusable if you think about it and when understood.

Deficiencies and Hyperactivity are Factors in Sleep Disorders

Brian Yalung — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:49:37 +0000

While we are continuously groping for form on the growing problems of sleep disorders, it has been discovered that some of these are traced to ADHD or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Add it as another area that needs to be addressed, it is best to see a sleep specialist to see if you are categorized in this area of deficiency and hyperactive disorder that seems to be broadening the questions why many of us are experiencing growing pains in sleep.

Sleep disorders are present anywhere today. We often condition our minds on their area of issues. But not all sleep deficiencies are alike and unless the conclusion is given by a certified sleep specialist, chances are that our condition can only be figured out if we start checking out with them.

“The increase in sleep efficiency and the marked effect on sleep latency was paralleled by the subjective estimate of a more restorative sleep; for example, the patients rated their sleep better,” Dr. Sobanski told Medscape Psychiatry.

(Source) Medscape Today

Lesser Sleep for Longer Lighting

Brian Yalung — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:32:03 +0000

Call it a matter of being a psychological issue but people usually sleep well if they are in dark gloomy places. With that in mind, you may thing that thanks to Spring where there will be longer hours of having to be awake due to light, people would always be awake. Well it does not necessarily follow all the time.

Remember that our bodies have a certain body clock to follow. While we may condition ourselves that we do not normally sleep when the lights are on, it still remains that our bodies can only stay awake for a certain number of hours. We will reach a point where we may feel tired and want to take a nap, regardless if daylight is still around.

It just goes to show that not all necessary adjustments fall in accordingly. We will come to a point where we want to sleep or nap for a while. It is not abnormal but rather only typical for people who just follow the usual sleeping hours that their body is used to.

Here is a good article you can read on about spring fatigue and how to deal with it as far as sleep is concerned.

(Source) The Korea Times

Proper Sleeping Habits Starts During Infant Years

Brian Yalung — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:42:22 +0000

The proper sleeping habits never traced its roots when they were infants. For some, the usual sleeping patterns being once they are able to realize the importance of sleep today. But according to Dr. Polly Moore, babies need to sleep at least 90 minutes after their wakefulness.

We are all aware that babies need to sleep often to gain the proper nutrition and rest to make sure that they grow up to be healthy babies. However, it also remains that sleeping habits that these infants often regulate will be inherited until they grow up.

This may eventually be one reason as to the sleeping habits that most people have today. It all traces back to their toddler years and hence a reason why baby sleep is important for the young tykes we have today.

Babies that don’t sleep well become toddlers that don’t sleep well and schoolchildren that don’t sleep well. And we know that they have higher rates of ADHD, mood disorders and more. … Your baby can sleep all night long for eight hours and still need a nap 90 minutes later.

(Source) Seattlepi.com

Beauty and Health from Quality Sleep Habits

Brian Yalung — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:20:34 +0000

When you talk about staying fresh and maintaining beauty, women will be the first to step up and claim that sleep will be one of the essential things needed to make it all happen. Nothing beats the gift of a good sleep to make sure that their complexion will retain its usual rich self. Remember that each battered body due to lack of sleep will always claim drastic results in the end.

You can just look at the people who suffer from insomnia and other related sleep disorders we hear of today. Most of them always look haggard and are prone to various illnesses as well. If women had their way, they would want to get valued sleep at the best times advisable so that they in turn can avoid physical and internal problems that come along with lacking the proper fruits of restful slumber.

Most Women know that nothing kills a good complexion like a bad night’s slumber; there’s a reason, after all, that it’s called beauty sleep. If that’s not motivation enough to keep up with your nightly shut-eye, here’s another: doctors are learning that poor sleep habits may make women more vulnerable than men to heart disease and diabetes.

(Source) Time

Allergies Cause Infant Sleep Disorders

Brian Yalung — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:07:12 +0000

We often observe that kids would sneeze or even suddenly get up to scratch that itch when they are in bed. When we see these things, we can only try to assist and soothe them through giving lotions or even simply being there to guide them. But wait a minute; shouldn’t we also consider the fact that to be able to check out this stuff, their sleep is disturbed entirely?

Allergies contribute to sleep disorder. It is a fact that these irritating episodes force kids, even adults, to have to wake up due to these inconveniences. We rarely value them as important. But taken as a whole, they are notable contributors hence it would be wise to seek treatment for allergies to limit these sleep disturbances and get that much needed sleep due to our kids and ourselves.

Out of the parents whose kids had allergies, many suffered from lack of sleep, a fact that made it harder for them to function at a high level during the day.

“We have known anecdotally that children are affected by allergy symptoms similarly to adults, but Pediatric Allergies in America offers the first data quantifying the scope of how allergies interrupt a child’s productivity, sleep cycle and daily functioning,” said Dr. Jay Portnoy, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

(Source) DogFlu.ca

How a Nap Steals from Companies

Brian Yalung — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:23:26 +0000

There will be times when we are in the office and we may suddenly get that feeling of wanting to doze of for a second or two. It is only normal since it stems from boredom all the way towards lack of proper sleep. While such is a given when you are in the office place, it is likewise a form of stealing to certain extent since some employees tend to do it during the regular office hours.

Now most big bosses do not tolerate such acts. For one, it is a sign of an employee’s inability to produce the expected results. While many cannot help it, a lot has to do on how we discipline ourselves on how to obtain the proper sleeping hours to avoid these sleeping spells. If your superiors will hear nothing of it, chances are you may be walking on thin ice as far as your employment is concerned.

For the most sleep deprived section of the population, new parents, there is advice on how a 10 minute power nap can work wonders.

But is this the right thing? The effectiveness of napping varies from person to person. The reality is that some people need more sleep than others. And some of us get by with only four or five hours tops a night. And naps might not be that efficient because you are just getting into it when sleep time is finished.

(Source) Theage.com.au

Surgery Solutions for Sleep Apnea

Brian Yalung — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:02:36 +0000

Turning to surgery when it comes to sleep apnea solutions may be the last thing on people’s minds. But in reality, surgery for people who have a serious problem with it is entirely necessary especially if everything like constant consultations and therapies to remedy it fails.

Kids rarely need surgery and once they do, the immediate understanding is that they can be cured immediately. Apparently this does not hold true at times and while it is the last recourse for curing sleep disorders, it may not always be the last and reliable solution.

Surgery may provide only short-term relief for some children with sleep-disordered breathing, say researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Adenotonsillectomy surgery is the first line of treatment for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children. It is the most common surgery performed upon children, the researchers noted.

(Source) Washington Post

Women Suffer More from Sleep Disorders

Brian Yalung — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:37:51 +0000

Ordinarily, you would think that men would have sleep disorders due to work and some social issues that keep them awake at night. But apparently, based on this finding, it seems that women are getting the rawer end of the deal.

This does not mean of course that women have more shortcomings than men. It is just that they have to deal with mental and psychological anguish more than the male specie. A lot of it has to do with how they handle the mental deficiencies present in their lives today. You may say that its too much for their heart to carry when you talk about emotional stress.

“The study suggests that poor sleep — measured by the total amount of sleep, the degree of awakening during the night, and most importantly, how long it takes to get to sleep — may have more serious health consequences for women than for men,” says Suarez, an associate professor at Duke University’s department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.

(Source) WebMD

Being Awake While Everyone Else is Asleep

Brian Yalung — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:15:41 +0000

Some may call it weird or others because of their jobs. But there are people who may be awake at times when the rest of the world is sleeping. Why is this so? A lot is caused by the fact that they have to or because they have accustomed themselves to sleep in different time zones. Some relate it to work while others just have difficulty regulating the proper time to sleep.

People are often too proud to acknowledge that they have a sleep disorder. They believe that they can get through it by conditioning themselves to sleep in the right hours of sleeping. But for other people, even if when they are in bed, they cannot immediately sleep. Chances are they have to find a good position to lull themselves to doze off. If that isn’t a sleeping disorder then perhaps all people will be suffering the same thing.

But the thing is we are not professionals who can conclude anything. The need for sleep specialists has to be solicited. Some may have apprehensions but if you truly value sleep, then it would be best to eat our pride and get the help we really need.

How are sleep disorders diagnosed?
If a sleep disorder is suspected, your healthcare provider may refer you to our sleep clinic for an evaluation by our sleep specialists. Our doctors will perform a medical examination, carefully review your medical history, and may order other tests to determine any physical problems that may be causing a sleep disorder. You may also be asked to keep a sleep diary.

(Source) National Jewish Medical and Research Center

Have You Been Sleeping Lately?

Brian Yalung — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:41:49 +0000

Sleep is something that has drawn much attention these days and apparently it is an issue that needs to be addressed. Over a million people suffer from sleep disorders today and while many shrug them off telling themselves that they can get over this dilemma, a lot of them are frequenting physicians and specialists to seek advice on how to battle this sleep deficiency that has grown out of proportion.

There are a lot of factors that have made this sleep problem go out of bounds. A lot of it stems from the fact that people are forced to stay up in extended hours which in turn becomes a habit that suddenly goes out of control. Sad but true, people just don’t realize that sleeping irregularly is already a sign of potential sleep disorders that can go out of hand.

So what can you do to change the tide before the problem becomes so bad you require medical intervention?

Try setting a regular sleep schedule and sticking to it no matter what.

Avoid caffeine or other stimulants before bed.

Drink a glass of Retalex PM before you want to go to sleep. Unlike most common sleep aids — pills that leave you tired and groggy the next morning and supplements that can be hard to swallow and even more difficult to fully digest — Restalex-PM is an all-natural drink solution that will be absorbed by the body quickly.

(Source) Dentalplans.com

Putting Babies in the Proper Sleep Positions

Brian Yalung — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:22:02 +0000

We all know that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a leading cause for issues governing the life of babies. A lot of the causes of death stem from the manner to which we place them on our beds. Apparently, having babies sleep alongside adults has been overly discouraged but to date, most people have foregone this warning. Who wouldn’t want their babies beside them even if they have cribs in tow?

But the thing is, this recommendation was only made to protect our babies. While we may choose not to follow this advice, we just have to be aware that such warnings were made to help provide babies with better sleeping positions and valued lives.

“Bed-sharing was the No. 1 risk factor, and while we know that in a small number of cases infants die suddenly during sleep with no explanation, these 29 cases demonstrate the critical need to educate parents and caregivers on how they can reduce the risks of preventable deaths.”

(Source) Canada.com

DST Time and the Need for Sleep Adjustments

Brian Yalung — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 04:07:03 +0000

Daily savings time will be implemented on March 10 and while many are getting ready for the time adjustments, sleep should be adjusted as well. While we are all aware that sleep is equally important, some sleeping patters are sure to change along with this.

Most people don’t like it but to help save up on energy resources, this is the best solution they can think of right now until someone can cite any other recourse in lieu of it.

According to a survey released this week by the U.S.-based National Sleep Foundation, most people simply aren’t getting enough sleep. Studies suggest we replay the day’s events in our minds when we sleep, and if we don’t get enough (sleep, that is) these events don’t get implanted into our memory.

Missing another hour of sleep this weekend when we move our clocks ahead will most likely contribute to a frenzy of forgetfulness.

(Source) London Free Press

New Gadgets Causing Couple Sleep Issues

Brian Yalung — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:41:18 +0000

As far as we know, couples normally want to see their partner by their bedside when they sleep. But thanks to the fast development of technology, gadgets have now become an obstacle and are contributing towards forcing couples to sleep on separate rooms.

Gadgets range from cellular phones to modern technology developed consoles and rather than sleeping soundly with your loved one beside you, most people have preferred to stay awake and tinker around with them rather than getting good sleep.

So in a sense, you may call technology a bane in some sense. But if you look at it, it may come down to a choice on which is more important; your relationship or your gadget.

“Busy night-time routines are driving couples’ bedtimes and even their bedrooms apart,” the British media quoted Jessica Alexander of the Sleep Council, which carried out the study, as saying.

In their study, the researchers surveyed 1,400 people in Britain between Feb 27 and March three.

They found that one in ten couples sleep in different beds every night while a quarter admit to doing so on a daily basis; four in ten people go to bed at a different time to their partner.

(Source) The Economic Times

Daylight Savings Time can be a Sleep Hazard

Brian Yalung — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:27:58 +0000

We have all been exposed to time adjustments such as daily savings time (DST) where we have to adjust hours to save on electricity and energy resources. This takes off an hour from our regular sleep and while the intent is good, it may be the other way around as far as sleep deprived people are concerned.

Our bodies have certain clocks that they follow. Even if the need of such adjustments are a given, our bodies still yearn for that proper time where we have to get up. It is at this point where we may have to make a choice; go with the time adjustment or deal with sleep deprivation issues in other means that we can.

“With sleep deprivation we are going to have delayed reaction times, we want to be more aware when driving into work, we’ll be a little more compromised, be more careful driving into work, be more prone to accidents while at work, particularly those who work in the industrial sector, working with machinery,” he said.

(Source) Wcco.com

Waiting for A Perfect Night’s Sleep

Brian Yalung — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 10:22:07 +0000

In a nutshell, which sane person would not be interested in getting a perfect night’s sleep? This is something that is pretty much in demand all over the world and with an obvious demand for this unusual need, most companies have turned to various remedies such as pills, pillows, machines, therapies and massages to at least get closer to the actual needs of people today.

Sleep is not a common commodity that you can simply take out of the shelf. People know this and artificial remedies to something natural as sleep will surely be something many would-be customers will truly be wary of.

Dubbed “sleeponomics,” companies across America are trying to sell us a perfect night’s sleep with pills, pillows, white noise machines, aromatherapy, massage, acupuncture and more. And it’s fast-becoming a $20 billion-a-year industry.

(Source) ABC News

Do you Have a Sleep Disorder?

Brian Yalung — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:50:47 +0000

We often find ourselves having to stay up late due to parties, work and worries. But while we do not value them that much, does it follow that sleep disorders are not far behind?

Apparently, one of the hard problems we have to deal with today is properly. Unless you are a sleep expert, chances are you may already have a serious sleep disorder but are still in denial. Sleep problems exist today and it really does not hurt to find out if you are indeed suffering from a sleep disorder. Improper diagnosis may eventually lead you to serious problems that you think.

Just bear these things in mind:

Do you . . .

feel irritable or sleepy during the day?

have difficulty staying awake when sitting still, such as when watching television or reading?

fall asleep sometimes while driving?

have difficulty paying attention or concentrating at work, school, or home?

perform below your potential in work, school, or sports?

often get told by others that you look tired?

have difficulty with your memory?

react slowly?

have emotional outbursts?

feel like taking a nap almost every day?

require caffeinated beverages to keep yourself going?

(Source) Helpguide.org

Never Leave Your Kid with Nannies

Brian Yalung — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:35:45 +0000

As far as getting good help is concerned these days, be careful when you want your kids to sleep soundly if you leave a nanny to attend to them. While you may think your nanny is doing a good job in putting the kids to sleep, she may be doing something suspicious which may be entirely dangerous to a child’s health.

Now this is not to generalize that all nannies should be put into question. But even if they may seem sane, it still remains that some nannies have “different” means of trying to tend to children. For one thing, there are nannies who are only concerned about being paid and the care for children will not be the same as concerned parents have.

Here is an article about a nanny who drugged kids to sleep (Source) FOXNews. It does sound crazy and absurd but perhaps this will help parents think twice about leaving the kids at the hands of hired nannies.

Limiting TV Exposure to Kids for Sleep

Brian Yalung — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:08:43 +0000

Television is the best form of entertainment and recreation we can think of especially when we want to relax and take it easy. This is a prelude to actually getting our much longed for rest in the form of sleep. We often look at TV as the one that will evidently make us sleepy and doze off.

But when babies are around, this should not be the case. Babies take pride in the images and colors they can see and wait for them to grow tired of watching and then go to sleep. To some it does seem like a good way to make a baby sleep. However, it would be best to look at the effects if you should continue to adopt this practice in putting these tykes to sleep.

“We know that many, many parents rely on TV and video as part of their child’s sleep routine,” said Christakis, “Watching television before bed makes it more difficult for children to fall asleep.”

Thompson explained that a regular sleep schedule is important, because it influences the quality and quantity of sleep that children get. And, healthy sleep habits can prevent problems such as bedtime resistance or nighttime awakenings.

Other studies have looked at the effects of TV viewing on older children and teens, and also found a link between TV, poor sleep and later bedtimes.

(Source) China View

Can You Sleep in Times of Crisis?

Brian Yalung — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:15:46 +0000

We all have our share of having to deal with critical moments. It could be related to work or personal matters. Just the same, they give us sleepless nights and most of the time, forcing ourselves to sleep may become close to impossible. Trying to move forward and thinking of the events that may be in store for us, both favorable and not, is something we simply cannot really set aside just like a snap of a finger.

All people have to deal with this dilemma. Headlining the list are political leaders such as Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and even United States President George Bush. But while they both claim that their problems are farthest from their minds, it would be interesting to know how they can be able to go through it.

President Macapagal-Arroyo is not losing sleep over loud calls for her resignation as a result of the purported bribery and overprice scandal attending the scrapped National Broadband Network project.

In an interview Saturday over dzRH, the President said she had been sleeping “seven hours a night,” and that this was part of her “energy management.”

(Source) Philippine Inquirer

The Factor of Sleeping in Cold Rooms

Brian Yalung — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:26:55 +0000

Room temperature has a bearing for people to sleep well. While some may do the necessary adjustments towards getting a good night’s sleep, there are people who just allow their psychological factors play an integral role towards sleeping comfortably. Of course, we cannot rule out the fact that some people really have an irritating time as far as sleeping in desired temperatures is concerned but for the people who can manage this area of consideration, hot or cold room temperatures can be adjusted to if they really want.

If you take the majority, a lot of people would prefer to sleep in cold room temperatures. This allows their bodies to relax and worry less about perspiration or sweat. Some may call it a psychological sleep factor but for some people who live in various regions, temperature does indeed play a vital role for it all.

(Source) Kansas State University-Counselling

Sleep in a cool room (60 degrees or so). Pile on another blanket or add one under the mattress pad rather than turn up the heat. A physician I know used this principle while in medical school; he kept an air conditioner on in his room all year. He said it helped him sleep better so that he needed less sleep. You don’t need to go to such extremes, but do keep it cool.

The Uninterrupted Sleep You Demand

Brian Yalung — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 06:26:51 +0000

As far as getting the much required sleeping hours, a lot of people would pay big bucks to know the secrets. But the question would if it would be necessary? Normally, we treat sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia as rash and serious but when you think about it, much of the problem may be due to our doing.

One common thing we can point to is the presence of gadgets that pose more of distractions and temptations rather than sleeping aids. Television and the usual noisy component which you can tune up at any time you wish are just some of the common things that can keep us awake when we feel like it.

So what am I getting at? Well for starters, sleep can be achieved with proper evaluation of ourselves beforehand. There are far more serious problems today but normally, we just have to trace the roots that allowed them to bloom as big problems we face today.

Since sleep deprivation can contribute to loss of productivity and crash your immune system, getting an uninterrupted night’s sleep is a luxury you shouldn’t pass up. One of the key tips requires discipline: put your clock on the bottom shelf. That way, the glow of the digital electronic display would not shine in your face and keep you up at night. By relocating your clock to a different area of your nightstand, if you do wake up, you’ll be less stressed out that you’re losing out on that important sleep.

(Source) Lifehacker

Fitting Right in and Sleep Comfortably

Brian Yalung — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:08:17 +0000

Our weight is associated with how well we are able to sleep. For most people, they often blame oversleeping as a primary reason for bulging bellies. While some of it may be true, it remains that it still all depends on the person as a whole. Remember that we have the power to control how we sleep. And in the process, we can also have the power to control how we look and how heavy we may get.

There are times we may be over-conscious about our physical appearance. While we may want to fit in with the crowd, rest assured you will get noticed if they seem something unusual. While many would not care, think again and try to look at yourself in the mirror. Can you sleep comfortably seeing yourself getting all the flak from people who have taken notice of you? I don’t think so.

“I dreaded going out – even to work,” she says. “If people looked at me on the train I was convinced they were thinking about how fat I was.”

Theresa planned the US trip with husband Chris, 36, an insulation consultant. She adds: “We had really looked forward to it but I had to sit at an angle all the way and the belt only just went round me.

(Source) The Sun

Senses Going Haywire Due To Lack of Sleep

Brian Yalung — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:17:07 +0000

Sleep plays a vital role in everybody. We all know it helps us recover our used health or even revitalizes us of our drained energy. It is the best way to regenerate battered bodies by simply lying down and resting for at least 6 to 8 hours. But these should be done the normal way that of which is in the normal body clock as evenings.

As far as teenagers are concerned, they are practically victims of lack of sleep. Sometimes they feel that they can take on the world and still keep going like they are 100% sane. But at times, the little things such as mood swings and lack of alertness may become varying marks that make us totally unaware of the things around us. And most of them are because we lack the proper amount of sleep.

“Sleep is one of the first things high school and college students sacrifice to meet academic demands and other goals,” Dr. Franzen added. “This is sort of a public health problem. Kids fall asleep in school; they fall asleep driving cars. There are good statistics on kids having accidents.”

(Source) Post-Gazette Now

Ambien Overdose Linked to Heath Ledger’s Death

Brian Yalung — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:06:37 +0000

Most people want to get the most out of what they can from sleeping pills like Ambien. But while they are known to provide temporary relief as far as helping people sleep, they may not necessarily produce the much needed sleep that we all look forward to. They are remedies but while they can allow you to sleep for a while, you may very well start to become immune to them and worse, get hooked on them without getting any sleep solution in the process.

Ambien has been in the headlines since there are rumors that is had something to do with Heath Ledger’s death. But as stated, they are just rumors and nothing has been scientifically proven just yet.

Did Heath Ledger die of an accidental overdose of sleeping tablets?

Among the many pills found near the actor’s body was the drug Ambien. Last week, Hollywood star Jack Nicholson said he’d warned Ledger against the sleeping pill.

“I tell people about Ambien. Somebody said: ‘Take this, it’s mild.’ I almost drove off a cliff 50 yards from my house.”

At the moment there is no evidence that Ambien played a part in Ledger’s death. However, the drug has been linked with other bizarre and terrifying experiences.

(Source) Daily Mail

Sleep Easy Investing

Brian Yalung — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:00:35 +0000

So this post maybe a bit different. While we all know that sleep is the number one victim of people who cannot afford to relax when it comes to business and investing. Indeed some people would forego sleep and lieu of devising new ideas to make up for faltering businesses.

Indeed, business problems will surely lead to sleepless nights. But one thing that they should perhaps consider is if they continue with it and abuse their body continuously, they may as well end up losing investments and health together.

What is your number one investment priority? Finding the next “hot” stock? Making huge profits? Making 10 percent a year on your money? If you found yourself nodding at any of these suggestions, you need to rethink your whole approach to money management. The number one goal of every investor should actually be to sleep comfortably at night. Simplistic? Sure! Personal finance expert Gordon Pape explains that if you adopt the sleep-easy philosophy as your basic credo, both your health and wealth will benefit. In this must-read book, Pape explains this investing philosophy and how it can be used by everyone to avoid the greed and fear traps.

(Source) Penguin Group (Canada)

Finding Sleep Despite Stock Drops

Brian Yalung — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:30:00 +0000

One thing that is sure to keep people awake these days is being worried over the stock market drops that are causing economic crisis and headaches to people who have heavily invested in them. Thinking about the investments and the money that they are continuously losing by the day is bound to keep you awake, making you think of how to recover from these losses if and when they do stabilize.

Apparently all seems lost for people who feel that they are experiencing these losses everyday. But as they say, “Things can only get better”. Such is easier said than done but just think of new ways to win back the money rather than soak and end up thinking all the time which will give you less sleep. Your health should not diminish in the same way that the stock markets are pummeling.

Just remember, there are always alternatives you can turn to if you are inclined to think of the status of your money in them. Sleeping on it will not help but at least your help is still upbeat and will not coincide with the continuous trend of economic problems. Remember that they can get up, but your health is something more important.

Here is a good article to read on: Sleep easy despite the stock market storms

Sleepy Drivers Behind the Wheel

Brian Yalung — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 08:50:21 +0000

There are times when you cannot avoid the need to go places or drive your car at certain hours of the night. While drivers normally know their capacity to drive a vehicle, it remains that they should know if they are able to drive without falling asleep along the way.

Apparently, there are sleep disorders suffered by some drivers. And if you put it all together, it is quite risky if you consider the fact that you may not know when you would fall asleep while driving. In fact, the study even shows some people who have memory lapses of not even knowing where they came from once they park their car after a long drive.

Hundreds of thousands of UK drivers could be suffering from an undiagnosed sleep disorder which puts them at risk of falling asleep at the wheel, an insurance company has warned.

Some 8% of drivers admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel, and 28% have been known to “microsleep”, meaning they cannot recall certain parts of their journey, according to a survey by esure motor insurance.

(Source) The Press Association

Sunday Sleep Produce Monday Grumpiness

Brian Yalung — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:02:26 +0000

Most people consider Sundays as the day where they can readily rest and sleep all they want. It is like a mini-vacation of sorts for them, normally staying at home and not having to rise early for work.

While it is only once a week, it may account for this acclaimed “Monday Sickness” which we would usually describe our grumpy and grouchy moods when the time comes for us to work. No wonder many people hate to get up on Mondays!

It may explain that Monday morning feeling – research has found that Sunday is the most sleepless night of the week.

Nearly 60 per cent of employees have their worst night’s sleep of the week on Sundays, a survey claims, with restless nights forcing one in four to call in sick on a Monday.

Disrupted sleep has also been blamed for a lack of concentration at work (46 per cent) on Mondays, increased irritability towards bosses (30 per cent) and the odd impromptu nap at the desk (20 per cent).

(Source) Telegraph.co.uk

Clarifying the Sleep Deprivation Issue

Brian Yalung — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 09:27:45 +0000

All of us would be going at anything to uncover the true secret of sleeping better. But while we are inclined towards looking for the scientific aspects included in getting much sought after slumber, perhaps the question that should be asked is does it really need scientific intervention.

Sleep deprivation is known to originate from personal faults or even hereditary capacities. But of the two, it really seems like we are the ones responsible for making sleep an issue.

If this is the case, then we should perhaps change the whole approach of science. They are trying to help sleep deprived people to sleep better and not to find why sleeping is becoming a growing issue among people in the world today.

After a few restless nights, most of us can’t even think straight. We are less able to make sense of problems, make competent moral judgments or retain what we learn, even though studies show our brain cells fire more frenetically to overcome the lack of sleep. Lose too much sleep and we become reckless, emotionally fragile, and more vulnerable to infections and to diabetes, heart disease and obesity, recent research suggests.

(Source) The Wall Street Journal

Sleep Routine for Multi-Tasking Children

Brian Yalung — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:50:01 +0000

Take a look at a child and you will see a routine of activities that they normally do each day. These include eating meals, watching television and sleeping. Now for most, these are given facts. But the real thing here is that there are extenders of one aspect over the other.

For all of these, sleep may be the most overlooked aspect. Television normally eats up the time given to sleep and once it does happen, children will start to have abnormal sleeping patterns along the way.

The survey, which has been conducted annually for 14 years, asked for the first time whether children watched television while eating dinner or in bed before going to sleep. It found that 58% watch during their evening meal, while 63% lie in bed watching the screen (rising to almost three-quarters of 13 to 16-year-olds). Two-thirds – particularly the youngest children – watch before school, and 83% turn on the television after returning home.

(Source) The Guardian Unlimited

Help for the Sleep Deprived People

Brian Yalung — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:44:51 +0000

We are all aware that sleep deprivation is a growing issue. Seeking medical help from people who have conquered such a sleep problem may be a good way to find resolutions to such a problem. While we all know the usual suspects leading to sleep deprivation, it would be best to post them once again so that people can remember the problems that are occurring when sleep deprivation sets in.

Exercise regularly.

Avoid caffeine after mid-day.

Go to bed when you’re tired. Don’t spend time in bed worrying about falling asleep. That’s just going to stress you out more. Get up and do something relaxing in another room, and return to bed when you’re ready.

Learn relaxation techniques. Focus on your breathing or imagine being in your favorite place.

Maintain a routine. Changing your sleep schedule dramatically on Friday and Saturday nights can lead to tiredness the next Monday morning.

Consider melatonin as the hormone is a natural sleep aid.

(Source) Tampabays10.com

Video link here. Watch now

Securing Safety for the Sleeping Child

Brian Yalung — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:35:13 +0000

For babies, the only thing important for them once they are born is to get the proper sleep so that they can start their journey in growing up towards healthy living. Babies are usually in the delicate stages of growing up, not having much preference on the higher demands of living that most of us today yearn for. However, saying that all they need is sleep and nothing else requires more detail in determining just how to give them such quality sleeping habits today.

Remember that at their state, they are more prone towards acquiring diseases and that they are in the molding stage of being certified beings immune from any diseases or harm. Sleep is something important to them and it is best to secure all means to keep it that way.

“The comforting news for parents is that we now know more than ever before about safer sleeping arrangements for babies,” says Dr. Bill Sears, a pediatric sleep expert. “Parents can give their babies as safe a sleeping environment as possible by following a few simple guidelines.”

Always put your baby to sleep on her back.

Co-sleep safely.

Don’t add risk to the baby’s bed. That means ensure there are no sharp edges, sheets fit snugly on the mattress and the mattress fits snugly in the bed.

Improve breastfeeding comfort with a Co-Sleeper Bassinet

Finally, parents should practice their own safe sleeping habits.

(Source) Kero23 ABC

MEDesign Bed Glasses

Brian Yalung — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:45:14 +0000

The proper sleeping position is usually lying down. Now there will be times where you would want to see what goes on around you, thus becoming a problem since you have to face that way to make sure you are aware of what is going on. Another thing may be wanting to watch television and normally we would be found in slanting positions until we lull ourselves to sleep.

The MEDesign Bed Glasses offers an innovative way of making sure we don’t force our backs so much and observe the proper laying position when we are in bed. Creepy as it may seem since we feel unorthodox viewing things from a position through these glasses, it is an effective way of observing sleep and our overall bed position.

Lying flat on your back due to acute back pain is not a joke

Our prism glasses make the experience much more bearable

They turn the world through 90º so that you can see your feet whilst looking straight ahead

Watch TV, read books or just watch the world go by without lifting your head

Made to high optical standards and can be worn over spectacles

Source: MEDesign Ltd.

Sleep Stealers Called Noise

Brian Yalung — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 02:29:00 +0000

Noise barrages come in different forms but if you are resident, ideally your place would solicit an overall sound of silence. With these silence and convenient moods, people would normally find themselves looking forward to lying on their bed and taking that long deserved nap. As long as it is quiet that is.

But for people living in the urban neighborhoods, it may sometimes be an issue with regards to peace and order especially when construction and renovation is concerned. Now whenever construction sets in, chances are you will have to deal with the noise by jackhammers and constant hammering of walls. Now once the noise issues set in, sleep deprivation starts.

It is a good thing to deal with them every once in a while. But the aftermath is really something that needs to be considered. Sleep is a sensitive endeavor, people just have to find ways to deal with it.

DOHA • Residents in Al Sadd area are spending sleepless nights due to noise generated by relentless construction activities around the locality.

The problem is acute near the Al Sadd Plaza area, where work is going on in full swing for day and night at three or four construction sites.

Source: The Peninsula

Sleep and Drive Wisely During the Holidays

Brian Yalung — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 07:26:41 +0000

The holiday season calls for some hectic demands when it comes to managing the amount of sleep you can get. Parties and shopping are most probably the first things that would be the main reason for not being able to sleep regularly.

There are people who also have to cram for work, render overtime and make sure that before year’s end, all work has been turned in. In the end, getting home may become a problem, and for people who may feel sleepy on the road, better stop and take a short nap before you get a permanent nap that you may regret.

Sleeping and driving do not mix. Surely it would be best to take this seriously. Sleep is something that we have trouble settling and for sure it will be something that can be an issue during this Christmas season.

(Source) Dr. Thomas Lo Russo, medical director of the Northern Virginia Sleep Diagnostic Center says there is documented evidence that the number of car crashes increases over the holidays.

He says people need to pay attention to their natural body rhythms and drive when you are most awake between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Consider resting between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

If it’s a long journey, he says, “About every 100 miles, take a break. Move around, maybe have a cup of caffeine.”

Sleep’s Role in Medical Recoveries

Brian Yalung — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:15:38 +0000

At some point, most of us would find ourselves needing to undergo surgeries or medical procedures to attend to various problems we may encounter with the human body. One key point here is the recovery period to which our overall health assessment will surely be something to monitor. The speed at which we recover may pretty well be dependent on the condition we are in and sleep has something to do with it.

Sleep helps relax and regenerate our body to required health. Lacking sleep is a good direction towards doing the exact opposite such as weakening some internal body attributes such as our immune system. Sleep is more than just making us relax, it is also about how our overall health can be assessed and there will come a point where it will come into play.

(Source) Disrupted sleep, the authors note, can cause problems with the immune system, infection resistance and wound healing — all of obvious importance to patients recovering from illness or injury.

While the patients studied did get an average of eight hours of sleep during the time they were studied, it was not good sleep.

Sleep Is Still Wise for Higher Grades

Brian Yalung — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 02:56:01 +0000

Contrary to reports that cramming and investing on long hours to get better grades is a good thing, it can go the opposite direction. Students are known to inherit that crab mentality attitude wherein when examinations or tests are up around the corner, they would wait until the last minute to review and study lessons to ensure that all these topics would be fresh in their minds.

But according to studies, this has made them more susceptible towards failing for the reason that their minds might not be that open nor aware of what they are trying to feed it. An instant influx of tons of information might become crucial and hence jumble them up leading to waste of effort and poor grades in their academics.

(Source) A survey of 120 students at St. Lawrence University, a small liberal arts college in northern New York, found that students who have never pulled an all-nighter have average GPAs of 3.2, compared to 2.95 for those who have. The study, by assistant professor of psychology Pamela Thacher, is to be included in the January issue of Behavioral Sleep Medicine.

“It’s not a big difference, but it’s pretty striking,” Thacher said. “I am primarily a sleep researcher and I know nobody thinks clearly at 4 in the morning. You think you do, but you can’t.”

Sweet Dreams for a Sweet Sleep

Brian Yalung — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:08:01 +0000

If you sleep well, chances are you will dream well too. Sleep problems have been facing most people in more cases than one. There are a lot of factors that include work or becoming a habit. While these are factors that cannot be avoided especially in these times and pressured needs, people just have to be aware that health is equally important.

Our brain needs to rest and exercise. During sleep, there is a portion of our brain which is unused which is exercised. This is the work of dreams where our subconscious selves go to work.

For health reasons, people with less sleep are more prone to illnesses and related problems such as heart diseases. Productivity is one thing but without health to support it, you may as well sign your death sentence.

(Source) Your brain needs sleep because it exercises the parts of the brain you don’t normally use. Your body needs that downtime to repair and refresh its systems. When people don’t sleep for three or more days, they sometimes become psychotic.

Body Clock Switched On with Amino Acids

Brian Yalung — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:53:43 +0000

One thing that most people have to deal with these days is adjusting to various shifts that normally pertain to work. This issue is perhaps present in people who work in call centers which at times require graveyard shifts. People who work in the early mornings need to adjust accordingly their sleeping habits to be up and awake during the required shifts.

Protein in amino acids has been tagged to help regulate the body clock when it is adjusting to sleep patterns. In the call to use sleeping drugs to treat sleep disorders, hopefully this will be pretty much helpful to people suffering from various sleep disorders.

(Source) Researchers say they have identified the chemical switch that controls the genetic mechanism regulating people’s internal body clocks.

Although the process involves complex genes, the whole mechanism is controlled by a single amino acid – a building block of protein – they say.

It is hoped the discovery may lead to more effective drugs to treat sleep disorders and related ailments.

Insomnia Will Haunt You For Life

Brian Yalung — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 08:49:29 +0000

Insomnia is something that most of us have encountered at some point in our lives. But while some have found ways to battle this serious sleeping problem for most, there are some who will carry this up to the time they grow older. In fact, it can either become a hereditary or traditional practice and it is best to check on the sleep facts surrounding it.

(Source)
It’s impossible to tell if someone is really awake without close medical supervision. People can take cat naps with their eyes open without even being aware of it.

A new baby typically results in 400-750 hours lost sleep for parents in the first year

One of the best predictors of insomnia later in life is the development of bad habits from having sleep disturbed by young children.

A night on the grog will help you get to sleep but it will be a light slumber and you won’t dream much.

Take a look at these sleep facts. We all know that we will or have already encountered them at one point in our lives. So how does one handle the transition and control Insomnia.

For the people who have already controlled the habit, then my hats off to you guys. But for the ones suffering Insomnia and may considerably getting worse, any tip will surely be a big help.

Sleeping on Ice

Brian Yalung — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 00:03:49 +0000

We are all aware that a lot of people rely heavily on sleeping pills. Now we all know a lot of these pill put into the market today, but there has to be a distinguishing factor as to which are ideal and which are dangerous. Some of these pill may reach a point of becoming addictive and chances are people would likely have more than just sleep problems to worry about.

It should be remembered, sleep problems can be treated but pairing it with a drug-related problem such as reliance on methamphetamine hydrochloride or Modafinil, may produce more problems than results.

(Source)”What ice, or crystal, does is it actually hooks into your reward system in the brain, and the reward system is designed so that you can recognise positive stimuli, remember them, act on them,” he said.

“But by overdoing it, by chronic use, you end up with a depletion of these neurotransmitters.”

Time Management and Sleep

Brian Yalung — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 10:05:52 +0000

Who knows what time it is in your region? For all you know, upon reading this, you should be in bed. But rather than laying down, you find yourself exploring the web for anything that may be of interest to you. Sometimes, it is a way of making you sleepy.

After a hyperactive day, chances are you may be wondering of the things that had transpired. It could be about work, about a special person or something about family. Anything can keep you up thinking or even get your working.

But sleep is something you really cannot force on yourself. There is the thing called time management to which our body clocks work on. Foregoing them may prove to be risky for health reasons. Also, whatever enthusiasm you have in your body may soon go away. It is still best to keep emotions in check and get back to your senses.

Just about the Right Amount of Sleep

Brian Yalung — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 08:51:53 +0000

Similar to cooking or baking, people are often advised to get the proper amount of sleep which is usually 8 hours. Going less than this will have adverse effects on health and the whole system of an individual such as poor production at work or gearing towards becoming sick due to lack of rest.

On the other hand, going above the usual 8 hour sleep can drive a person to become lazy and groggy, making them walking a thin line of health and keeping up with their profession. We all know that some people make the most of their time and sleep is something that they have to sacrifice. But for the recommended hours of sleep, it only remains that there is a reason for it.

There should be not more or less sleep for people. The task may indeed look hard for the normal Tao. But being productive goes way beyond sleeping and people know at the back of their minds, how much the proper sleep should be for them today.

Cramming Adds To Sleepless Nights

Brian Yalung — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 08:49:27 +0000

This issue covers most students, particularly the ones who have a problem with doing advanced studies and preparations as far as their school work is concerned. Essays and thesis papers require some time to finish and while preparatory stages are given at their convenience, kids and teens simply wait for the last minute before they even think of doing some work to avoid cramming and getting sleepless nights ahead.

Cramming is a common mentality that is experienced everywhere. The usual belief is if you can sacrifice a day or two’s sleep, then you have no problem. But mind you, there are a lot of factors to consider as well such as time constraints when you cram.

Further, you may not turn in quality work, something prevalent when you lack sleep since your mind needs to rest too. In the end, both efforts are deemed as futile. You don’t get decent grades and you end up sacrificing your health in the process.

How Depression and Insomnia Deprives Sleep

Brian Yalung — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 09:00:09 +0000

Individually, they are known to be contributing factors towards sleep deprivation that people experience today. But together, a person can just imagine the impact and discomfort that they can make.

Insomnia is a symptom not a separate disorder. A complaint of this needs a clinician to inquire further to disclose the underlying etiology of the complainant. Depression, conversely, is a serious medical condition that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. The main three depressive disorders are Major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder and bipolar disorder. Source: Depression and Insomnia Relationship

With this in tow, we can see how people have to deal with having to deal with factors of sleep deprivation. Both have a lot of factors to consider such as the mental and environmental factors of where they are sleeping.

We all think we know everything about insomnia and depression. But put them together in one case and you will find complications on conclusions and looking for alternatives on how to deal with sleepless nights we all hear of.

Set The TV Timer Before you Sleep

Brian Yalung — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:00:34 +0000

There are some people who love to watch television to lull them to sleep. While this is a known practice to help put most of us to get drowsy and sleep, leaving the TV set on may not be the best solution after all.

Other than using up electricity, there is a hazard of potential fire coming from overheating or electrical malfunction. To avoid them, there is an option that is usually present in TV sets and this is the sleep timer which can be set at various times such as 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Knowing how well fast you can sleep, most people would do well to consider it so that they can sleep and not worry about leaving it on. It may sound simple to most but if you really practice it, then perhaps we would see less problems and worries today.

Your Mind is still Awake When you Sleep?

Brian Yalung — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 08:00:41 +0000

Logically, we believe that our minds rest while we are sleeping. However, based on some studies from the United States, our brains work while we are snoozing, storing the various events that took part in the day and registering them in our minds thus strengthening our memory.

If you look at it, it is like downloading videos from you video camera. All the events that have transpired are replayed and stored, making your memory storage entirely wider. This is perhaps one reason why sleeping is a good time to rest for the body but not the brain. It still functions without our knowledge and it does some things we least expect.

Researchers in the United States have carried out a study and found while you sleep, your brain remains busy in strengthening the memories of what you did during the day and it does it in quick spurts, as if your day was being replayed in fast-forward.

“The brain’s medial prefrontal cortex replays daytime activities during sleep six to seven times faster than real time,” the WebMD reported, quoting lead researcher Dr David Euston was quoted as saying.